The present invention relates generally to toys for children and more particularly to water inflatable splash pad toys.
Conventional water toys for children include splash pads and splash mats that may be connected to a garden hose or other water source. Such toys include a substantially flat pad or mat forming a playing surface for children to sit or stand. The playing surface is surrounded by a ring that sprays water onto the playing surface. Water from the hose enters the ring through a hose fitting. The water is sprayed in streams from one or more orifices into the air generally directed toward the playing surface. Some water may collect on the playing surface, forming a shallow pool of standing water. Children positioned on the playing surface may be sprayed with water, allowing the children to splash in the water and cool off. Toys of this nature are generally used outdoors in warmer climates as alternatives to swimming pools. Splash pads and splash mats can be used on decks, driveways or in a user's yard.
Some conventional splash pads and splash mats include graphics to provide additional entertainment to children during use. For example, popular children's characters or items may be displayed on the playing surface or the ring. However, such features are generally limited to stationary graphics, and do not provide any type of moving figures or additional motion. What is needed then are improvements in splash pad and splash mat toys for children.
The present invention provides a splash pad toy for children. The splash pad includes a base pad having a playing surface. A ring is positioned on the base pad. The ring includes an interior space configured to receive a liquid, wherein the ring is inflatable using the liquid. A plurality of orifices are defined in the ring, wherein each orifice ejects a stream of the liquid when the liquid flows through the interior space. A first moveable object is disposed inside the interior space in the ring. The first moveable object travels inside the ring when the liquid flows through the interior space. In some embodiments, multiple objects are positioned inside the ring, and are visible as they travel through the ring along with the flow of water.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a splash pad with a transparent ring surface so that users can see the moveable objects travelling through the ring.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a splash pad that can be connected to a standard garden hose.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a splash pad with moveable objects inside the ring that simulate animals swimming when water is flowing through the ring.
A further object of the present invention is to provide splash pad that provides entertainment to users by watching and interacting with the moveable objects translating through the ring.
Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the following disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims.
Referring now to the drawings, an example embodiment of a splash pad apparatus 10 with mobile interior objects is shown in
Ring 20 has a tubular structure with an interior space 22. Ring 20 is formed from a thin-walled material such as a plastic material. In some embodiments, ring 20 is formed from polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other suitable polymer materials. During use, water may be introduced to the interior space 22 inside ring 20.
A plurality of spray orifices 30 are defined in ring 20. Each spray orifice 30 is positioned on the upper side of ring 20 in some embodiments to allow a stream of water 32 to be sprayed in an upward direction, as shown in
A hose fitting 40 is disposed on ring 20 in some embodiments. A user may connect a hose 42 to hose fitting 40 to provide an input of water to the interior of ring 20. Hose fitting 40 in some embodiments is configured to attach to a standard threaded garden hose. When a hose 42 is connected to hose fitting 40, water is provided to ring 20. The flow of water inside ring 20 moves in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The water provided by the hose 42 travels through the interior of ring 20, and the water is emitted from the plurality of spray orifices 30 positioned around the perimeter of ring 20. The direction of water flow in
In some embodiments, one or more movable objects 50 are disposed inside the interior space 22 in ring 20. Each moveable object 50 is dimensioned to have an outer dimension smaller than the innermost dimension of ring 20 when ring 20 is fully inflated with water or air. As such, moveable object 50 may translate inside ring 20 when water is flowing through ring 20.
For example, as shown in
Moveable objects 50 can take many different forms. In some embodiments, moveable objects 50 include shapes resembling children's toys, such as balls, solid shapes, animals or marine life. In other embodiments, moveable objects 50 include particulates such as glitter. In other embodiments, moveable objects 50 include battery-operated objects with one or more light emitting diodes disposed thereon and configured to produce light and/or sound when moving through ring 50.
Ring 50 is attached to base pad 14 as an integral part of base pad 14 or as a separate component that is attached to base pad 14 during manufacture. Ring 50 can take many different shapes. As shown in
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Each spray orifice is oriented at a spray angle 36 relative to a horizontal reference plane. The spray angle 36 of each orifice in some embodiments is ninety degrees such that the spray jet 32 is directed straight up into the air. In other embodiments, the spray angle 36 is between about zero degrees and about ninety degrees. In further embodiments, the spray angle 36 is between about thirty degrees and about sixty degrees.
During use, the water flowing into the ring on the splash pad may flow in an counterclockwise direction as shown in
In some alternative embodiments, ring 20 may be formed from a circular tube that is attached to a flat base bad 12, as shown in a cross-sectional view in
In further embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a toy, comprising the steps of (a) providing a water inflatable ring and a splash pad base; (b) positioning a plurality of moveable objects inside the ring; (c) attaching the ring to the base; (d) introducing a flow of water into the ring; and (e) translating the moveable objects inside the ring along with the flow of water.
Thus, although there have been described herein particular embodiments of a new and useful apparatus and methods, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations on the scope of the present invention except as set forth in the following Claims.
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